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About Us

Collections in Context is owned and directed by Elizabeth Kessin Berman, A.A.A.,
Certified Appraiser, Appraisers Association of America. Elizabeth is a former
art historian and curator with over 30 years experience working in
museums. With degrees in art history from Boston College (A.B.) and
Harvard University (A.M., M.T.S.), Ms. Berman also trained at the Hebrew
University's Institute of Archaeology. She began her long career in the arts
as a practicing artist.

Always involved in the interpretation
of collections, Ms. Berman held research and
field positions with the Albright Institute of Oriental Research (Jerusalem),
Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), the Joint Expedition to Sardis (Turkey),
and the Israel Department of Antiquities. Back in the western world and
indoors, Ms. Berman was appointed to curatorial, research, and
exhibition development posts at the Smithsonian Institution, the United
States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Jewish Museum of Maryland, and the
B'nai Brith Klutznick National Jewish Museum. She is the author of numerous
academic and popular publications and has been a consultant on National
Endowment for the Humanities grants and for other museums and non-profit arts
organizations. She has taught art history at several academic institutions
and frequently speaks to community organizations about appraising. Ms. Berman
is an avid volunteer and currently works with the Volunteer Lawyers for the
Arts in Boston and other community organizations. For a list of publications
and a CV, email to info@collectionsincontext.com.

A long time member of the art community in Washington D.C., Ms.
Berman is now a resident of the North Shore of Massachusetts. She regularly
travels to Miami, Baltimore, Washington D.C., New York, and other
areas. Appraisal and consulting services are offered to clients in
other areas by special arrangement.

Ms Berman maintains a collaborative
relationship with specialized appraisers of
coins, firearms, and fine art and antiques specialists who are brought in to
give opinions of value when warranted.

Collections in Context's clients
are private collectors and public institutions, including museums and historical societies whose areas of interest include modern art, antiques,
Judaica, tribal art, antiquities, and historic documents and archives.
Numbered among our clients are also churches, synagogues and cultural
institutions which hold important artifacts, books, and documents of
religious or local cultural and historic value. Ms. Berman also works closely
with lawyers, insurance agents and other professionals who might require the
specialized expertise of an independent, unbiased third party opinion
of value and or expert witness for written review or trial testimony.